THE GENERAL 'ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2317, 26 November 1914, Page 6

THE GENERAL 'ELECTION

CAMPAIGN POINTS. NEWS . NOTES AND ADDRESSES B . AND PRESS COMMENTS. Sir Joseph Ward has not yot Issued his usual eleotlon-cve manifesto. That document will doubtless appear In due oourse, and, if the Dast is "our only faithful guide to the future"—as Sir Joseph Ward tells us It is—will no doubt contain reference to the land question on the following lines:— . / ,

The past is soon foTßotten, although it is our only faithful fruide tothe luture. We are all apt to forget th.e days left behind us eighteen years ( . ago. . . . We turned our backs upon land monopoly, then unrestricted and JnjiKi? as Wltness th <» fact tfiat 584 owners held.no less an area than . TU,4UU,UOO acres—Sir Joseph Ward, election- manifesto, November 14, 1908. We destroyed land monopoly and unlocked the land to the people, .tieretoiore land monopoly was a relentless bar to progress, • .'. Five hundred and einhty.four, owners held, and had been "allowed by the Conservatives to hold, between them over 10,000,000 acres of the country's best . land.—Sir Joseph Ward, election manifesto, December 6, 1911. . these figures sound damning enough when it Is remembered that, , the total area of New Zealand Is only 66,000,000 acres. To drive the. lesson home, however, Sir Joseph Ward should have told the electors what the position was In 1911 after twenty years of "Liberal" rule. The figures are readily accessible. They can be found on pages 525 and 526 of the "Official Year. Book" for 1911, which Is stated on the title page to have been "prepared under . Instructions from the Rjght Hon. Sir J. C. Ward, P. 0., K.C.M.0., Bart., Prime Minister." if the figures relating to occupied holdings' of 10,001 acres and over are taken It is found that 490 oersons were In possession of 16,037,828 acres. The result of twenty years of "Liberal" land policy may therefore be sucoinctly summed ud as follows on the basis of these figures of sir Joseph Ward's:— Liberals comes Into Office: 58« persons hold 10,400,000 acres. After 20 years of Liberalism: 490 porsons hold 16,037,828 acres. It is perhaps not wholly surprising that the collection of these particular statistics was among the items retrenched by Sir Joseph Ward in 1911. As previously pointed out, the return published in that.year 3howed, for the first time In twenty years, A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OCCUPIED HOLDINGS while the area held by tho fewer owners had considerably Increased. . ' |S ANYTHINC FURTHER NEEDED TO. DEMONSTRATE THAT THE WARDIST LAND POLICY IS A HOLLOW FRAUD?

When he stated last night that the Government had increased the graduated land tax, and proposed to mcreaso it still further,. Mr. Herdman' was interrupted by a hostile interjection: "Talk about .-.that and Sir Walter Buchanan behind you?" ■ Mr. Herdmat replied that one of the strongest advocates of an increase in the graduated land tax was Sir Walter Buchanan.

. _ Time works great changes I It is significant that almost on tho spot whore the strike riots occurred in Buckle Street in 1913 the Hon. F.-M. B. Fisher, a Minister of the Government that dealt so firmly with' the strike, should twelve months after those riots address a meeting of upwards of a thousand of the electors and be on such good terms with them, as lie was last night. Mr. Fisher was as straightforward as ever in regard to.his own attitude to strikes. "I yiiat to make it perfectly plain so far as lam concerned," he, said, "that this Government—if it is in power and if'there is an occurrence of the same kind—will bring the "specials" downagain. -I don't believe the. working population of this town was behind tho strike at all. , '. . '. A law which wo will put oil the Statute Book next year ['will be a faw to prevent -intimidation." At a later stage Mr. Fisher said: "I tell .'the-Red Feds, straight cut that I'm ! agaiiist them to the death.'- , (Loud applause.) . i ■. Further evidence-of the compact entered, into between the Wardists and other factions of tho , Opposition was given last evening. Mr. J. M'Kenzie, chairman at Mr. -M'Laren's_ meeting in the' New Century Hall, said that "a working understanding had been . arrived at to allow the' 'Progressive' nominee to have a dear run against the Government candidate." . The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) . will deliver an - address at Lower Hutt tliis evening. The Reform Government will not br dislodged from office by a fusillade/of fictions, myths, nnd election canards. Unless the Liberals can bring up some heavier guns, their attack is doomed to fail before it is fully developed. The only convincing, thing about it is the necessity for the regeneration of the Liberal Party from within.—Christchurch '.'Sun." , No man could.serve two masters, and Sir Joseph Ward was trying to serve three or four. Even in the Christchurch East electorate there were two candidates claiming to -be the Teal Simon Pure, the true nominee:of Sir JbseDh Ward. It was.no wonder that the Labour neople werepuzzled how!to vote.—Mr. G. D. Macfarlane, Reform candidate for Christchurch East: . "Waihi!" was .->ne of the cries raised at Mr.' Herdmin's lneetina last night by a very noisy minority which occupied a corner at tho back of the hall. Mr. Herdman finally took, up the interjection and soared- a minute or two to deal with the incidents to. which it referred. "There ware a number.of men in the community," he said, "who had no business to be in New Zealand at all. They molested law-abiding people and tried to prevent men from workmg who ■ wished' to do so, and had a right to do so. The Government had to step in arid , stop that, and the Government did stop it, and there is little trouble in the country now I" (Cheers and a few. hoots.) If the same conditions arose again, the Minister added, precisely the same steps would be taken to check lawlessness. (Cheers.) A voice: You will never get a chance again. ' Mr. Herdman: The only difference would be this: that there would not be so much waste of time ever it. The whole business would he dene very much more quickly and effectively than it was done before. (Ap)lauso.) It was ascertained by !a Dominion reporter yesterday that the lino "this holiday does not apply to workers,", appearing at the foot of an extract from the New Zealand Gazette posted jn the Stores Branch of the Post and Telegraph Department relating to St. Andrew'e Day, which has. been the subject of comment, .was not .inserted by the Public Service Commissioner, ; but bv the office of the Controller of Stores.

_ "A laughing-stock to the community I" Su<Sh was the candid confession made by Mr. C, H. Poole, wlio has just been selected as tlie official Opposition candidate for Auckland West, when , he was previously in tlio House, in describing the humiliating part that the supporters of the Ward Government, Mr. Poole included, were made to play in the "backing and filling," as ho himself aptly termed it, of that Administration on tho land question.—Auckland "Herald."

their pay it's a bribe."—The Hon. F. M. B._ Fisher's reply at Mount Cook last night to an interjector, who described an increase of pay given to railway servants as'a bribe. . '■,•'■■■■

Most people have laughed heartily at Sir J. G. Ward's "scheme"—to be revealed only if he is returned to for making everything cheap and plentiful and everyone rich and contented. But the best criticism was one unconsciously made by one of the Wardist candidates in the Auckland district. "He was not going (this candidate said) to stand before them like a fool, and say he could remedy all the evils in the world." • This, from'a Wardist, is insubordination. Privates should keep to themselves their opinions concerning their general.—Ohriste'iiurch "Press."

In strutting before the electors as the chivalrous champion of the sinall farmer, Mr. J, D. Mathews sternly denounces land TC-aggregation. . . . To show that Mr. Mathews could not ho regarded as quite sincere in his protestations we were placed under tho necessity the .other day: of referring to;Ms own achievements in the matter of re-aggregation, and also to those of his neighbour and nominator. Mdngahao, as most people are aware, was originally a small farm settlement, carrying quite a number of- families, but it has Bi'nce been virtually wolfed up by two men under the eyes and during the administration of the good Liberals. .... The actual position is that at Mangahao Mr. Mathews at present holds no fewer than 689. acres, representing six ,of the original areas, an educational reserve, and a forest reserve. .... As a capI>ing ceremony .to his varied achievements, Mr. Mathews has practically been brought out by a settler who lias even out-rivalled him in reaggregatiqn at, Mangahao; a settler who revels in the absorption of approximately 1400 acres of the original small areas designed to help the struggling farmer!— l'aliiatua "Herald." ■

With the Reform Government one knew where the country stood, hut fho 6ame could not be said of the Opposition. The Opposition was really not a party at all- It was a conglomeration of Liberals, Labourites, Social-De-mocrats, and Red Feds.—Mr. G. D. Macfarlane, '. Reform candidate for Uhristciiurch East. ■ • n

During his- address, at Mount Cook last night, the Hon.. F. M. B.' Fisher was commenting on the absurdity of seme of the planks in the platform of Hie Social Democratic Party, and the impossibility of, carrying them out. No Social Democratic Party man in thie country and not one out of it could hope to carry them out—not" even Walter Thomas Mills, who had been imported from America.

A S.D.P. interjector: He was a clever man, anyhow. ' , . ■■ • , ■ ' Mr. Fisher: Of course, he was a clever man. He knew when the game was up, and he got out. (Laughter.) The interjector: How much did you pay him to get out? Mr. Fisher: Ha! ■ Ha!- How much did you pay him to come in? (Uproarious la.ughtor, and discomfiture of the interjector.) ' . ■

"The progress of the previous Government in erecting workers' homes was snail-like compared to ours."—The Hon. A. L. Herdman at Sydney Street.

Some of the Wardists won't thank Mr. M'Laron for speculating last ovening on there being, after this election, "newer and cleaner iren in tho Ward Party." •

Whatever Ministry went back into power it was going to have a thorny and hard path. The results of the war were beginning to be felt already in the community in the shape of unemployment, and there could be no question that the Ministry," whoever they were, would after Christmas'hare a big task in front of them. He believed that both Mr. Massey and Mr. Allen had a good grasp of the position, and that they would do everything possible to keep the country going.—Mr. C. J. Parr, Reform candidate for Eden. "If we live long enough to Bee it," interjected, an elector while the Hon, F. M. B. Fisher was describing the Government plans in connection with the Dominion Museum for Mount Cook last night, The Minister was prompt with'his reply. "You won't have to live very long to see it," he said, "because we are people who do things, as you know now by experience." (Loud applause,) When the 'demand from Press and public became so insistent that it could no longer be withstood. Sir Joseph. Ward lost no time in abandoning his position in opposition to compulsory universal service. Ho forthwith jettl- ' soned the principles that lie had enunciated at Feilding arid in tho Hoiiso, and prepared to introduce a system that ho previously declnred the country would not tolerate. ■ . . The latest

"If you don't raiso Ihoiv pay, you're a orusty old-Tory, who doesn't b'elipve ; i decent wages. And if you do raise

development, Sir Joseph Ward's , borabnstic claim for ''tho sole credit" for a measure that ho ridiculed for so long and that was only forced upoii him by tho growth of public opinion, will be regarded as only another instance of the facility with which ho can turn, a necessity into a virtue.—"Slanawatu Standard. '•

A little sally at Mr. Fisher's meeting at Mount Cook last evening:— Mr. Fisher: At the Mount Cook sito we propose to erect the National Museum.

A voice from the crowd: Will you be in it? (Laughter.)

Mr. Fisher: Of course. I shall go to see tou. in the insect case. (Great laughter at the expense of the intorruptor.) , ' ■ .

A suggestion put forward by Mr. Mason, Opposition candidate for Chalmers, is that the soainen should be allowed to concentrate their votes upon one constituency in order that they may have a special representative in Parliament. The "Otago Daily Times"' remarks that tho idea is one that admits of considerable development. "We might have_ the Civil Service formed Into a constituency of their own, as was the case in Victoria not bo many years back; or we might have special representation given to anti-militariste and to eingle-taxers and so on. By tho extension of the principle which Mr. Mason would apply in the case of seamen a constituency.might eventually be constituted that would view even his candidature with approval."

"The Social Democratic Party is a Siamese twin to the Federation of Labours'—The Hon. F., M. B. Fisher at' Mount Cook last night.

A voice from the back-blocks: —"I grant you, Sir, that .the old order of a fow thousands, per annum and the dash of a. few more in election year has changed, but what did that system benefit the genuine settler: Men, or apologies for them, were put on . the roads to waste and dissipate the votes in the quickest possible time and every' unbiassed man will bear me out that had Mr. Massey had the reins of power five- years ago wo would not have required the paltry patchwork system of road grants but would have'had tho railway into Ohura eighteen months ago."—Mr. John Lyon, in a letter'to the "Ohura Advocate."

Somebody told Mr. Herdman at his meeting last night that the Public Servants were "up against" him now. The Minister i-etorted that he did not care who was "up against" him, but that ho was quite certain the Public Service Act had given the public a better Civil Service and_ Civil Servants infinitely better conditions thaJi they had ever had before. Moreover, their pay was better than it had ever been, and they had a Board of Appeal, which ftey had never had before. Anewering •lestion later in the evening, the Minister said that it was absolutely, false to say that he was in favour of withholding their statutory increases from Public Servants on account of the war. ■ .

In reply to Mr. Atmore's challenge to a debate with him, Mr. Field, the Reform candidate for Nelson, has written as follows to the local papers: —"I.notice a 'etter from Mr..Atmore in which he suggests apparently that he should take half the timo on my platform at the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening next. As Mr. Atmore took a- wholo evening to present what he called the 'Case Against tho Massey • Government,' his proposal to cut short my time for reply is manifestly unfair, and opposed to British fair play. - Is ho afraid of the facts I have to bring forward that ho does not wish mo to have a full evening to reply to his speech and to present the case for'the Massey Gdverninent?"

"We are not hearing very much just now of the United Federation of La- , bour and the. Social Democratic Party, fflhe tempestuous voice that roared so loud when the great strike was in full blast has (lied away to an undertone in the meantime. There is a politic quietude iii the air. Now we aro asked to banish that silly notion that the Labour Party had ever any predatory instincts, ever fomented discontent, strikes, and violence. It is too late! Out of their own moutha so-called Labour leaders in our midst have condemned themselves not once ' but a hundred times, hopelessly and '-irretrievably."—"Otago Daily Times,"

"I never changed my coat," said Mr. J. P. Luke at Berhanipore on Tuesday. "I went into Parliament six years ago as an Independent." (A voice: "Independent Liberal.") "Very well— pendent Liberal, and came out of it with as clean bauds as anyone. What I did was'to stick by my old electorate (Suburbs) after it had been altered and practically made a country electorate. I am essentially a city man, and that's why I've returned to my own electorate—the electorate , I live in—and I'm going to ask the men and women of that electorate to put me into Parliament, and I feel confident that they will express themselves that way in a fortnight's time." . . ■ ■ .

One of the interjections at Mr. Herdman's meeting last night was "Police Association 1" The Minister instantly replied that the attitude he had' taken up.in connection with the police Association was absolutely right.. (Cheers, applause, and. dissent.) There were men in New Zealand desirous of undermining the police, corrupting its members, and alienating them from their duty. Mr. Herdman said that his action in refusing to. allow the poLice- to associate themselves with Labour unions had been tflken in the interests of law, order, find the good government of the country. , ...,.

It was about that time that the "Liberals" began to, see, as in a glass, darkly, that the day would come when the "Liberal" Party would fall bite the arms of. the Red Feds. On October 26. 1911. the Opposition paper was chiding Mr. Sullivan, who was then leally impolite to 'Wardism. Instead of attacking tho "Liberals," it «"•:.■ Mr. Sullivan should cultivate their goodwill. It seems never to have occurred to him '(the argument proceeded) that it would bo easier for Labour to capture tho Liberal Party than to demolish it. The Red Feds, havo made uood use of. this hint. The capture has been made.—Christehurch "Press."

The supplementary electors' Toll for the Wellington Suburbs and country electoral district was' issued last evening. It contains 2062 names. The total number of names on the roll is 7999. . .'•■■■

Sir Joseph Ward's baby bonus joke, reminds one of another scheme of the baronet's, which a great many people havo now well-nigh forgotten, the "cab-bage-garden" policy. In a policy speech given in Auckland when he-was Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward outlined a scheme for the breaking up of the Chinuse monopoly of market gardens His proposal was that, by way of experiment,' State market, gardens should .bs established in Auckland, Wellington, Christehurch, and Dunedin, to be worked by the prisoners in the gaols, Under such a system, he, felt confident,, ''enough vegetables could be grown to supply a very largo proportion of tho requirements of tho people." Hnlf tho money earned by tho prisoners was .to b r j paid to tlipir wives or other dependents, and tho other half was to he applied to defraying the cost (f keeping tho prisoners. By this means,. it vciTs urged, the difficulty of successfully competing against the Chinese gardener WRiilci bo overcome r.nd a great reduction in tho cost of vogotnblc* io'tho .consumer, would be assured. No mor^

was hoard of this 'great scheme, but perhaps (says the Auckland "Herald! , ) it, is ono of the unfulfilled pledges which the- Opposition Leader means to redeem when ho gets back • to power.

"What about the specials?" asked » young man at Mr. J. P. Luke's meeting at Berhamporq on Tuesday evening. "The 'specials' did Rood -work," said Mr. Luke, "in bringing about law and order at a time when it was bndly needed, and you know that as well as I do. The way to settle differences is not to strike, but by voting at the bal-lot-box—work through the ballot-box. (Applause.) Will anyone now say that wo did not take the right lino? You couldn't witSbout a 'blush coming to your cheek. Think of our City in the power of an armed mob I for one could not, and I think I still hold .the* confidenco and esteem of the people."

'At one meeting of Mr. Norton Francis, the Reform candidate for Waitaki, whenthe chairman asked those willing to join a committee to remain behind the whole audience retained their seats and were subsequently enrolled as members.

Mr. Isitt, at M'Fadden's Road Hall: "The Liberals are simply fighting' Mr. Massey with his own weapons—the 6ame as he fought the Liberals with.Wβ are serving out to him exactly the same sort of sauce as he served out to U5. Yet (observes the "Sun") there was a time - when Mr. Isitt used to preach, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Now he'has adopted the political version, which is: 'Do unto others what they would do to your-only do it first!"

A correspondent of the Tiraaru "Herald _ draws a pleasant picture of Mr. J. Unißie, the Wardist candidate for Tiniaru: "His versatility is truly marvellous. If you walk from the Bank of .New Zealand corner to the Old Bank comer you will see him talking confidentially' to half a dozen different persons.en route—Reformers, Liberals, Liborakßeronners, Social Democrats, Red l<eds, and Independents, If you see these people (sex immaterial) afterwards, you will bo given to understand that his entire sympathy is with each platform, that his political attitude in support can be proved from Hansard: that he had voted seven times with Mr. Massey during last Parliament; ' and that no.will vote again with him or with Mr. Webb, or with any other member who conforms nearest to his political ideals ; that he will support any party he is pledged to 'for this time only, , and if the cat jumps to the other sidewell, dash it, public opinion is that way. and it is the duty of a politician, whether of horse trough, railway extension, or Dominion outlook, to always please the people, please the people, and still more please the people. , "

In plain English, the Social Democrats are bitterly opposed to the defence system, but they know that they would get short shrift if they declared.' their views _ oponly at, the present 'fime, ■ so they intend to lie low like Brer Rabbit and say nuffin'.— "Grey River Argus."

Opposition has generally an advantage ■in an election campaign (says tho Christchurch "Press"), but the present .occasion is a notable exception to the rule. The Government hae a record which appeals very strongly to the majority of the electors. It is a strong' Government, intolerant of such invasions of the people's rights as the Red Feds., with the assistance of tho ''Liberal" Party, attempted last year during .the strike. It is an efficient Government, capable of meeting any crisis that may arise.. It is an honest Government, with no class or party interests to serve, but,,devoted only to the management of the nation in tie interests of the nation.

Evidence of the ascendancy /of Reform is abundant. 'Here is what the Mataura '-'Ensign" says of Mr. G.' J. Anderson's candidature: —' 'Wherever Mr. Anderson has spoken he hae-re-ceived marked tokens of support from many friends and numbers who have not voted for him in previous elections have intimated that they intend to do so on this occasion as tlioy are impressed with his honesty of purpose and freedom from bitter party attacks, his treat-' inent of the political issues being on strictly business rather than on partisan lines." •'"."' "I'm a bare majority man," eaid Mr. J. P. Luke when asked t6' give his views on the liquor question at Berhampore on Tuesday. : '"' ■' The Statute Books of the past three years (a southern journal points out) attest tho liberal and democratic spirit animating the. Reform Party. And against tip Government is fighting a combination of Red Feds bent on .vengeance and "Liberals" 'destitute of 'any idea and concerned only to "hack their way" to office at'any cost to the national interest, ar.d at any sacrifice of their convictions. . More than this, the Opposition are already on the defensive, and are very conspicuously omitting to stand on anything like a policy. "I defy you to point out any Government that in two years has brought down more legislation of a beneficent character than the Massoy Government.":—Mr. Macfarlane, Government candidate for Christchurch East. The Prime. Minister will deliver a political address at Hastings on Tuesday, December 1. • ,